Improvement in pocket-book fasteners



n. M. READ. POCKE'T-BOOK FASTENER. N.o.172,16-9.- Patented Jan.11, 1876.

WITNESSES N.FETE.RS, FHOTD-UTHBGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNI ED STATES PATENT QFFIO'E.

DANIEL M. READ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,] 69, dated January11, 1876; application filed November 13, 1875.

OAsE A.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, DANIEL M. READ,'of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looks forPocket-Books, &c., of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved lock, shown as applied to apocket-book. Fig. 2 is an under-side view of a modified form of thesame. Fig. 3 is an under-side view of the lock shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of locks forpocket-books, memorandum-books, and other similar articles, in such away that the book or other article may be drawn snugly together withoutwithdrawing the catch from the lock, and which shall leave the outersurface of the lock entirely smooth, and without any projecting knob orhandle.

The invention consists of a fastening device, which comprises aspring-pressed sliding catch-bar, a series of ratchet-teeth formed on aslotted base-plate, and a catch-pin engaging with the ratchet-teeth, aswill be hereinafter more fully set forth.

A represents the base-plate of the lock, which has an inwardlyprojecting flange formed around its edge, andiwhichhas points or claws aformed upon the edge of its flange for securing it to the pocket-book orother ar- .ticle. In the central part of the plate A is formed alongitudinal slot to receive the catch B, formed upon a plate orbinding, O, attached to the flap of the pocket-book. The catch B, wheninserted in the slot of the plate A, is held by a bar, D, placed in thecavity of the said plate A, and held forward against the said catch B byaspring, E. The forward movement of the bar 1) is limited by lugs orshoulders a formed upon the said plate A, and which are so formed as tooverlap the ends of the bar D, and prevent it from droppingout. Themiddle part of the spring E is secured to a lug, a formed upon the plateA, to prevent the said spring from dropping out. Upon the rear sides ofthe ends of the bar D are formed shoulders d for the ends of the springE to strike against. The shoulder of the catch B is slightlyroundedloff, so that the said catch may be withdrawn by a slight oitwardpull. The catch B is heldin any position into which it ismoved byratchet-teeth F, formed upon the plate A, along one side of its slot, orupon the forward edge of thebar D. With this construction there is no'projection upon the outside of the lock to wear the pocket or disfigurethe lock. The ratchetteeth or serrations will enable the catch, stud, orpin to easily engage with the same, and to be slipped or moved alongWithout removing it from the lock-plate, after the spring-bar has beenpressed aside to release the stud from the teeth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Pat ent The combination of the slotted lock-plate A, havingratchet-teeth or serrations F, sliding locking-bar D, and spring E, witha catch,

B, on the flap of the pocket-book, substantial- 1y as herein shown anddescribed.

DANIEL M. READ. Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, T. B. MOSHER.

